Submitted by glister_and_gold t3_zuzpgu in Maine
Does anyone know what it means? We were driving and couldn’t stop to look.
Comments
glister_and_gold OP t1_j1m73wa wrote
Thank you! I’ve never seen them before so I was confused.
MonsterByDay t1_j1m835h wrote
I think of them as a southwestern thing. Santa Fe is covered in them for Christmas Eve.
art_decorative t1_j1mhwvq wrote
They're pretty common in a lot of New Mexico.
78FANGIRL t1_j1mib68 wrote
They are filled with a little sand and a candle to be lit on Christmas Eve and are called luminaries. They're pretty common, I am surprised you've never seen them.
willieandthets t1_j1mm5x9 wrote
I grew up in Pittsburgh. Every neighborhood was lined w them on Christmas eve
glister_and_gold OP t1_j1mp069 wrote
Me too, I grew up here. I’ve seen the candles in the window and sometimes by the door, just never along the side of the road like that.
MonsterByDay t1_j1mqzbn wrote
I always loved seeing them when we went out to visit my grandma for Christmas.
[deleted] t1_j1mw6rq wrote
[deleted]
TimothyOilypants t1_j1my7u7 wrote
Oh no...not sand, paper and wax... The humanity...
[deleted] t1_j1myswu wrote
TimothyOilypants t1_j1n0gig wrote
Yes, PLEASE, let's focus our criticism on the REAL problems like luminaries before we address lesser problems like PFAS contaminated septage, 21 tons of salt per mile of road each winter, >30,000 tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, ad infinitum...
You got a good heart kid, but try pointing it in the right direction.
2SticksPureRage t1_j1n1tgx wrote
I’m confused. Why would someone put a candle in a paper bag?
andrethecat t1_j1n2wfy wrote
To light the way for St Nick
2SticksPureRage t1_j1n53wx wrote
Are they actually lit?! That’s what’s confusing me. Never seen them before but I didn’t think fire and paper went together.
ChazmasterG t1_j1n69k5 wrote
Or ya know we could all just try our best to not be wasteful. Or an asshole...
348D t1_j1n88em wrote
There’s sand in the bags. My neighborhood has done it for years with no incidents
spaceghostinme t1_j1n95ar wrote
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminaria
Definitely a SW US thing. Saw a ton when visiting my mom for Christmas in AZ years ago. They are pretty cool.
2SticksPureRage t1_j1ncl4t wrote
Ahh. Thanks for the explanation. I wonder why I’ve never seen this before?!
348D t1_j1ncnu4 wrote
Haha, I’m wondering too!
Merry Christmas!
JupiterWaterwheel t1_j1nehsl wrote
where in falmouth? i live there and haven’t seen anything
glister_and_gold OP t1_j1ng97v wrote
A tiny section of Falmouth Road. Maybe a hundred or two hundred feet. I’m guessing one household put them up.
Tumbleweed-53 t1_j1nk6fk wrote
Luminarias as already described. Paper sacks with candles, sand in the botom/or suspended by strings and launched en mas. I've heard differing reasons for them always religious symbols. Common in NM, they are stunningly beautiful at night, dozens being launched at once in the still desert air. New Mexico is called the land of enchantment for very good reason
TimothyOilypants t1_j1nrqkx wrote
You mean like shaming people for trying to milk some little fucking joy out of a holiday after 3 years of death and disease...
Paper: biodegradable. Cotton wick: Biodegradable. Wax: biodegradable. Sand: Inert. Aluminum dish: Inert.
What are we actually worried about here?! I would rather luminaries than electric Christmas lights strung together with 5 lbs of plastic...
If you're so sure luminaries are bad, make a case for it.
If you have a problem with paper bags I assume your washroom has 3 seashells?
MathematicianGlum880 t1_j1obmio wrote
A street in Gorham does it too. People drive down the street with their lights off…very cool.
andrethecat t1_j1m5rr0 wrote
They are called luminaries and typically have candles in them on Christmas Eve